Sudan: Youth Demand Greater Role in Economic Recovery and Peacebuilding

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) consulted around twenty young Sudanese individuals in Khartoum — including students, entrepreneurs, and young professionals — alongside Ali Ahmed, president of the Sudanese Youth Union operating across the country's 18 states, and Rimah Hamid, a member of its executive team. These discussions are part of multi-country consultations conducted by the pan-African institution for its 2027 Economic Report on Africa, dedicated to youth employment and the continent's fiscal resilience. The young people met described a largely informal labor market, limited access to financing and costly training, and insufficient information on existing programs. Officials from the Central Bank of Sudan and the Ministry of Youth consider the youth employment situation critical, with many turning to volunteering to gain experience. The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023 has worsened these difficulties, closing businesses and displacing millions in what UN agencies describe as one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Falling household incomes are also pushing more women into the labor market, even though their access to financing and decision-making remains more restricted than that of men. The Sudanese Youth Union is preparing a national dialogue to gather the priorities of young people, both inside and outside the country, and to strengthen its ties with regional youth networks. For UNECA, youth employment and entrepreneurship are becoming central to the country's reconstruction, alongside their participation in political decisions and peace processes. This demand builds on the experience of the 2019 civic mobilization. It comes as the suspension of Sudan's debt relief processes...